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Room For Seconds

Room For Seconds

Written by: Gregg Majewski
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 You’re listening to Room for Seconds, hosted by Gregg Majewski, former CEO of Jimmy John’s, entrepreneur, and CEO of Craveworthy Brands. This digital series isn't just for restaurant moguls; it is a beacon for dreamers and doers, a celebration of tenacity and heart. Dig into riveting conversations with some of the most captivating personalities in business, sports, and the hospitality industry as they share stories of courage, ambition, empathy, and all that it takes to turn dreams into reality. Ready to be empowered? Join us and let the inspiration flow.Copyright 2026 Room For Seconds Careers Economics Leadership Management Management & Leadership Personal Success
Episodes
  • Gregorys Coffee Was Built by Obsessing Over the Bean

    Gregorys Coffee Was Built by Obsessing Over the Bean
    Jan 12 2026

    Recorded live at CraveCon 2025, this episode of Room for Seconds features guest host Josh Halpern in conversation with Greg Zamfotis, founder and CEO of Gregorys Coffee, for a wide-ranging discussion on passion, product obsession, and building a brand rooted in craft and community.

    Greg traces his journey back to growing up in a family-run food business in New York City—working deliveries as a kid and learning the fundamentals of hospitality long before launching Gregorys Coffee in 2006. What began as a single shop fueled by a deep love for coffee has grown into more than 50 locations nationwide, all anchored by an uncompromising commitment to the bean.

    Throughout the conversation, Greg explains why he believes coffee is more complex than wine, why the morning ritual leaves zero margin for error, and how Gregorys has resisted trends in favor of elevating quality—innovating with drinks like cold brew mojitos, biscotti-inspired lattes, and clean, coffee-based energy beverages without ever losing sight of the core product.

    The episode also explores Greg’s philosophy on menu development, ingredient integrity, and why trust starts with making undeniably great coffee. He shares how inspiration from mixology, global coffee culture, and personal heritage shapes Gregorys’ ever-evolving menu—while still honoring the daily ritual millions depend on.

    Finally, Greg looks ahead to the next chapter for Gregorys Coffee, including national expansion, franchising, and what it means to invite other operators into a brand built on passion, people, and community.

    A must-listen for founders, operators, and anyone fascinated by how deep product love—when paired with discipline and vision—can turn a single coffee shop into a scalable, culture-defining brand.

    Episode Links

    • Connect with Greg on LinkedIn
    • Visit Gregorys Coffee online
    • Follow Gregorys Coffee on Facebook
    • Follow Gregorys Coffee on Instagram
    • Follow Gregorys Coffee on Tik Tok
    • Follow Gregorys Coffee on X
    • Follow Josh on LinkedIn

    ABOUT JOSH HALPERN:

    Josh Halpern is the Chief Business Officer for Craveworthy Brands and CEO of Big Chicken. Over 20 years of professional and leadership experience in industries ranging from Consumer-Packaged Goods (CPG), to retail and now the restaurant business.

    Connect with Gregg / Craveworthy Brands

    • Gregg Majewski Instagram
    • Craveworthy Brands Instagram
    • Visit Craveworthy Online
    • Gregg Majewski LinkedIn
    • CRAVEWORTHY FRANCHISING
    • CRAVEWORTHY BRANDS
    • INVEST IN CRAVEWORTHY

    Connect with Room for Seconds

    • Subscribe on YouTube
    • Subscribe on Spotify
    • Subscribe on Apple Podcasts
    • View Past Episodes on Craveworthy Website

    NOMINATE A GUEST — Do you know someone who would be great on this show? Let us know by emailing us at roomforsecondspodcast@gmail.com or sending a DM on social media @craveworthybrands
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    21 mins
  • Fresh Brothers is Building a West Coast Pizza Empire with Scott Goldberg

    Fresh Brothers is Building a West Coast Pizza Empire with Scott Goldberg
    Jan 5 2026
    Recorded live at CraveCon 2025, this episode of Room for Seconds features guest host Sam Stanovich in conversation with Fresh Brothers co-founder Scott Goldberg—aka “The Pizza Man”—for a deep dive into the entrepreneurial journey behind one of the West Coast’s most respected pizza brands.Scott traces his origin story back to 1985, when he took a leap of faith and used $7,000 of his college tuition to purchase a struggling pizza shop in Miller Beach, Indiana. That shop, Miller Pizza Company, is still operating nearly 40 years later and became the foundation for Scott’s philosophy around quality, consistency, and hard work. The conversation follows Scott’s move west in 2008, when his brother Adam convinced him to bring authentic Chicago tavern-style pizza to Los Angeles—launching the first Fresh Brothers location in Manhattan Beach.From there, Scott breaks down the operational decisions that fueled Fresh Brothers’ growth to more than 20 locations, including their early investment in a centralized commissary, their obsession with dough consistency, and their famously “mad scientist” approach to authenticity—going so far as to ship water from Chicago to California to replicate the exact pH levels needed for their dough. He also shares why a simple medium cheese pizza remains his ultimate quality test and how vendor loyalty, ingredient discipline, and packaging all play a role in delivering a great pie long after it leaves the oven.Beyond pizza, Scott opens up about working in a family business with his brothers Adam and Michael, the systems they built to scale without losing quality, and the importance of hands-on leadership and long-term team development in an industry known for high turnover. The episode also explores Fresh Brothers’ expansion into stadiums, arenas, hospitals, and airports, and how operational innovation made large-scale, high-volume pizza service possible without sacrificing quality.Finally, Scott discusses the next chapter for Fresh Brothers following its acquisition by Craveworthy Brands, including franchising, national—and potentially global—expansion, and why he believes the brand is ready to grow far beyond the West Coast.A must-listen for operators, founders, and anyone fascinated by how obsession with the fundamentals can turn a single pizza shop into a scalable, enduring brand.Episode LinksConnect with Scott on LinkedInVisit Fresh Brothers onlineFollow Fresh Brothers on FacebookFollow Fresh Brothers on InstagramFollow Fresh Brothers on Tik TokFollow Fresh Brothers on XABOUT SAM STANOVICH:Senior Vice President Franchise Leadership. Sam is a dynamic leader with over 30 years in leadership roles across the hospitality industry, including being an active QSR franchisee of a national brand. Sam is a people connector and an influential leader with a growth mindset.ABOUT GREGG MAJEWSKI:Gregg Majewski has a vast amount of experience as a corporate executive in the restaurant industry. As the former CEO of Jimmy John’s, he played a major role in expanding the franchise from 33 to 300+ stores in just 5 years by surrounding the company’s marketing strategy around the innovative approach of delivering sandwiches and being “freaky fast”. Majewski has worked to develop restaurant concepts over the last two plus decades, before starting Craveworthy Brands in 2023, which currently includes a growing portfolio of restaurant brands.Connect with Gregg / Craveworthy BrandsGregg Majewski InstagramCraveworthy Brands InstagramVisit Craveworthy OnlineGregg Majewski LinkedInCRAVEWORTHY FRANCHISING CRAVEWORTHY BRANDS INVEST IN CRAVEWORTHY Connect with Room for SecondsSubscribe on YouTubeSubscribe on SpotifySubscribe on Apple PodcastsView Past Episodes on Craveworthy WebsiteNOMINATE A GUEST — Do you know someone who would be great on this show? Let us know by emailing us at roomforsecondspodcast@gmail.com or sending a DM on social media @craveworthybrands
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    17 mins
  • Gregg Majewski’s Fireside Chat at the 2024 Prosper Forum

    Gregg Majewski’s Fireside Chat at the 2024 Prosper Forum
    Aug 24 2025
    At the 2024 Prosper Forum, Gregg Majewski, CEO of Craveworthy Brands, captivated attendees with his fireside chat alongside Michael Gottlieb. The discussion centered on his unique philosophy on leadership, employee rewards, and franchise success. From his commitment to building millionaire employees to his focus on franchisee profitability, Gregg reveals the values that drive his approach to business. Listen in to hear how he creates lasting partnerships by investing in people, leading by example, and fostering an environment where everyone—from employees to franchisees—can share in the company’s growth and success.Key Takeaways:Empowering Talent Through Trust and Example - Gregg Majewski, CEO of Craveworthy Brands, believes that the foundation of effective leadership is building genuine trust. One standout approach Majewski takes is "over-promoting" talent, inspired by his own early experience when Jimmy John Liautaud took a chance on him at age 21. Majewski now pays it forward by offering significant opportunities to his best talent, regardless of age or tenure, knowing that “if you over-promote the best talent...they’re gonna work their butts off for you.” This approach is key to Craveworthy Brands' success, fostering a culture of opportunity and trust built on his unwavering example.Rewarding Employees with True Ownership - Gregg sees employee rewards as more than just bonuses—they’re about creating real wealth and long-term ownership for his team. Early in Craveworthy’s journey, he put this into action by gifting $1 million in equity to his first employees, despite the company’s startup status. This unique approach not only recognizes hard work but fosters loyalty, inspiring his team to share in the success they help create. Franchisee Success as a Path to Shared Prosperity - For Gregg, success in franchising is all about helping franchisees achieve their own American dream, even if it means reducing his own profit margins or working harder to increase theirs. By investing in franchisee success, Craveworthy Brands builds lasting partnerships and shared growth, creating a model where everyone prospers together.Episode Links:Get Ready for the 2025 Prosper ForumConnect with Mike Gottlieb on LinkedInVisit Cohn Rezneck LLP OnlineABOUT MIKE GOTTLIEB:As Managing Director, National Hospitality Advisory, Michael Gottlieb provides deep industry expertise to CohnReznick Hospitality clients. A renowned restaurant industry expert, he is a global business and financial leader with over 35 years of experience in business strategy, P&L management, operations, enterprise risk management, and governance.Mike has deep knowledge and expertise in optimizing revenue channels, digital transformation, workforce challenges, supply chain management, franchising structuring and operations, real estate and lease considerations, and operational, transaction, and tax matters. He has worked with most of the leadership in the restaurant industry and was involved in several of the high-profile transactions.Mike began his career as a restaurant operator, providing him with inside experience on the financial and operational complexities of the restaurant business. He leveraged that experience into a career in public accounting, serving as a senior audit partner and global business leader for a Big 4 firm’s restaurant practice. During his 20-year restaurant leadership tenure with that firm, he achieved significant growth for the practice.Mike is a sought-after expert and was most recently named one of The Consulting Report’s Top 25 Travel and Hospitality Consultants and Leaders for 2023.ABOUT CRAVEWORTHY MEDIA:Gregg Majewski has a vast amount of experience as a corporate executive in the restaurant industry. As the former CEO of Jimmy John’s, he played a major role in expanding the franchise from 33 to 300+ stores in just 5 years by surrounding the company’s marketing strategy around the innovative approach of delivering sandwiches and being “freaky fast”. Majewski has worked to develop restaurant concepts over the last two plus decades, before starting Craveworthy Brands in 2023, which currently includes a growing portfolio of restaurant brands. Craveworthy Media is Majewski’s gift back to the industry that has given him so much. The goal of Craveworthy is to inspire the up and coming industry leaders by providing important information, stories, and insights from titans past and present.Connect with CraveworthyFollow Gregg Majewski on InstagramFollow Craveworthy Brands on InstagramVisit Craveworthy OnlineConnect with Gregg Majewski on LinkedInCRAVEWORTHY FRANCHISING CRAVEWORTHY BRANDS INVEST IN CRAVEWORTHY Connect with Room for SecondsSubscribe on YouTubeSubscribe on SpotifySubscribe on Apple PodcastsView Past Episodes on Craveworthy WebsiteNOMINATE A GUEST — Do you know someone who would be great on this show? Let us know by emailing us EMAIL or sending a DM on social media @craveworthybrands...
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    28 mins
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